Finest Ceylon Tea

Special request from the daughter of Gen. Sarath Fonseka

2011-11-27T09:18:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

As you all very well know my father was given another 3 years of imprisonment simply because the court felt he assisted in spreading a rumor that brought tension among ethnicities. Although it is my dearest wish to comment on this "verdict" and the so called "justice system" in Sri Lanka, I will keep them to myself for the sake of my family, who has felt the wrath of the Sri Lankan "law" more than any regular family that lives in the country.

However, I want to use this judgment as an example to show people how much we are in need of international interference when it comes to seeking justice for my father. After months and months of activism it is quite obvious that my family might never receive any fairness without international support. With that in mind, I have started a petition in the White House website.

This is how it works...

If I can get 25,000 signature within a period of one month, the White House will consider my appeal. Hopefully, This will open a whole new process that will allow me to make them aware of the reasons that surround my father's imprisonment and convince them to get involved.

Therefore, I kindly appeal you to please show my family your support by simply taking 30 seconds of your time to sign up for this petition. It will go a long way in helping my father and my family who desperately want a break from all the injustice that is happening to us on a daily basis.

We remain strong purely due to the support we have received from our supporters. Therefore, we appeal to you once more to be with us and support us in our hour of need by signing this petition and showing us you are still vouching for us. Political views aside, you all know that my father does not deserve this. The only thing he did wrong was standing up for what he believed in. It’s a human right. No one should be able to take that away from an individual.

I hope my humble appeal as a daughter who desperately wants to see justice for her father will inspire you to sign this petition and show us your continuous support.

The steps are as follows:

1. Please go to the Link :

http://wh.gov/jmh

2. Click on "Create an account" button. Then enter your details. (For people living in Sri Lanka, it is not essential to enter the ZIP Code and Address)

3. Then check your mail (the white house will send you an e-mail) and click the activation Link.

4. Click on the "Sign this Petition" button.

5. And then click on the "Facebook" button to share the link.
Please be kind enough to pass the message around. We need at least 1000 signatures per day to reach our goal.

Thanking you once again for your unstinting support and faith

Apsara Fonseka

Ceylon tea gains value in export market

2011-10-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

Ceylon tea consider as the best tea in the world. In previous years competitors from India gains the reputation for tea in the international markets. Weather is one of the critical factor for good tea producing. Sri Lanka has the ideal weather for tea making. But in the past years, weather and production of tea decreases in Sri Lanka. Therefore the demand for Ceylon tea has been reduced in the international markets.

But in this year, with the government support and involvement, Sri Lanka is able to gain their lost reputation again. Now Ceylon tea has the most expensive bid in international tea auctions.

Ceylon tea has a long reputation as the best tea in the world. The best quality tea grown in the hill country in Sri Lanka.

Invest more on tea branding and value addition

2009-03-05T02:13:00.000-08:00

The tea market in Sri Lanka stabilized with tea prices increasing in December and this would improve further in January onwards, said the President of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) and Chairman, HVA Lanka Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Rohan Fernando. At the last tea auction on December 16 and 17, 2008, the average prices for high grown and low grown tea were Rs.208.88, 188.64 and 224.76. However, market sources said that the market trend cannot be predicted, based on these prices because the next auction will be held on January 6 and these is a long period in between. Therefore, there was a high demand at the last auction.

To face the challenge in the international markets due to the global economic crisis, the government should support the tea exporters to build Sri Lankan tea brands and export more value added products, he said. Unfortunately, the authorities attempt to invest in the other end of the industry by supporting the growers and factory owners, he said.

Fenando said that the government should not take decisions by looking at street protests or the voters in this time of crisis. If Sri Lankan tea can capture and maintain the cast international market the whole industry including the factory owners, growers, smallholders, and the workers will be sage and the industry would be sustained. Therefore, pumping money to the wrong end would not help the industry. Fernando said that the government should invest the cess fund which is over Rs.1 billion an year for marketing, making brand images and value addition of Ceylon Tea. The industry has a legitimate right to demand these funds, he said.

He said that the industry including factory owners and growers should be able to hold on during this difficult situation. The prices were low only two months and if the industry cannot hold on during such a short period, the tea industry in the country is not sustainable. All the stakeholders in the industry capitalized from the long boom in the industry and high price, Fernando said. According to Fernando, the value of Sri Lankan tea exports was US $1.1 billion in 2007 and the industry targeted Rs.1.3 billion in tea exports last year.

If Sri Lanka exported value added tea this value would be nearly US $5 billion and therefore value addition is vital for the industry. Fernando denied reports which said that Vietnam is capturing our main markets. However, Vietnam is looming as a strong competitor and it is the second largest orthodox tea exporter in the world.

Sri Lanka has not yet seriously felt the impact of the global economic crisis. However, the next two three months would be more difficult as a result of the contraction in the global commerce, he said.

Tea crisis easing off

2009-02-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

Demand for tea has risen after auctions resuming for the New Year. The crisis in the tea industry is easing off with a significant increase in the prices of low and high grown teas.

The national auction average was Rs.301 per kg last week which is short of Rs.23 to reach the corresponding average price of last year. Chairman, the tea brokers association, Sarath Sirisena said tea prices are stabilizing since commencing of auctions this year. The national average price last week for the low grown rose to Rs.319 per kg from Rs.310 in the previous week.

Demand for tea from key markets dropped drastically following the global financial crisis which is having an adverse impact on many countries. Russia, which is the largest importer of Ceylon Tea, reduced the quantum of imports.

Following reduced inventories and the rise in demand for tea Russia has increased buying tea. The Middle East is the second largest importer of Ceylon Tea. The tea brokers played a vital role during the height of the crises in the tea industry last year by providing financial assistant to producers to sustain the manufacture of tea, he said.

The brokers invested four billion rupees in October last year to support the industry during the crisis. Around 55 to 60 percent of the national production of tea is funded by brokers which underlines the dependence on the brokers.

Sirisena said the association welcomes the timely intervention of the government to support the tea industry at a time of crisis with a relief package.

Ceylon black tea

2008-05-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

The most famous brand of tea from Sri Lanka is known as Ceylon Black Tea. Generally all local market is consisting of black tea. Why its called black tea is the color. Original black tea is more black in color with brown shades, but it is not completely black.

Most of the time black tea is prepared with milk or with a ginger blend. This is the oldest form of tea tasting. Now there are many varieties of black tea with many flavours, but most of the time it is tasted originally pure black tea.

Ceylon Tea Market

2008-05-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Tea plantation industry is one of the main and oldest export market item and it makes a huge effect on the economic and culture of Sri Lanka. A sub culture is formed around the tea plantations because of the workers came from South India. Now they become a Sri Lankan peoples and playing an important role in tea industry. Main profit from tea is coming from export market. Ceylon tea export all over the world and Europe is one of the main regions that have a huge demand for Ceylon Tea. USA is not a big market for tea generally because peoples in this region are used to drink coffee rather than tea.

Tea is not a traditional plantation in Sri Lanka. The tea culture is introduced by English peoples who ruled Sri Lanka for several decades. They knew the central hill country in Sri Lanka has the superior climate for tea plantation and soon Ceylon Tea became the top brand name all over the world. From central to south and south-east parts of the country is growing tea plants. The quality and the taste of these different parts are also different. Generally the highest quality tea produced in the hill country in Sri Lanka.

Tea in local market is often not quality as the exported teas. Because of the price, the local mass market has the demand only for low quality teas and most people are used to drink tea with milk. There are some grade of high quality tea packs are available in the local super markets. But superior quality teas are available only in luxury shopping malls and special tea centers only at local.

There are few main brand names for quality tea. Among then Dilmah, Lipton, Watawala are very famous.

Tea Brands

2008-05-09T11:05:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka was the best tea producer in the world till very recent, and eventually India become another giant in the quality tea producing. Ceylon tea is famous in the world as the best tea for more than a centuary. But coffee is more famous than tea. Drinking tea is very famous among Europe but in USA that replaces by coffee.

There are many local tea brands in Sri Lanka. One I most like is comes under the name of Lipton. Ceylon Lipton tea was one of the oldest tea manufacturer and exporter in Sri Lanka. This tea brand is very populay among the local tea drinkers. The main reason is this is very old and cheap than the other brands and also the quality is much same or higher than the other tea brands.

Not lipton tea is not much doign advertising on the mas media, because this brand is already created the milestone in the general public. There are more than 10 local tea brands widly availble in the local market. These local market tea is not that much quality like the original ceylon tea that is made for exports to other countries. But it is good enough for local peoples withe the price that is available.

Mlesna Tea - Finest Ceylon Tea

2007-09-04T01:08:00.001-07:00

Mlesna Tea Centres - The Island's Most Exclusive Tea Shops

Liberty Plaza - Majestic City - Crescat Boulevard - Hilton - Jaic Hilton - Ceylon Continental Hotel - Airport - Airport Garden Hotel - Kandy - St.Clair Tea Centre - Nuwara Eliya - Bandarawela - Beruwala - Mlesna Tea Fortress Peradeniya.

www.mlesnateas.com

Mlesna Tea - is a well known world popular finest ceylon tea producers and exporters. Mlesna Teas also available in local supermarkets and even small country boutiques.

The real taste of a finest ceylon tea cup is included in all Mlesna Tea packs. Mlesna Tea available in black tea, green tea, white tea, ginger tea, fruit flavored and all other varieties.

Mlesna Tea - A brand of original ceylon tea.

Tea export documentation go online

2007-08-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka's economy is in transition. Te transition take place fast and the economy moves forward. But still we can not be happy because we are far behind our potential, said the secretary to the ministry of trade Dr. R.M.K. Ratnayake. He was addressing a seminar organized by The Sri Lanka Tea Board to promote the online tea export documentation system.

Dr. Ratnayake said trading should be fast and cost effective and this has become a must to survive. Online documentation will apply to all import and export business within a couple of years. Whatever new technology we introduce the confidentiality of the information is guaranteed and no individual information is released to others, he said.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board together with eService Lanka Limited, Sri Lanka Customs and the BOI has initiated the online export documentation system for tea exports. The Tea Board will now go for total online tea export documentation.

The seminar was organized to educate tea exporters on the new online documentation process and demonstrate the success of the process started one year ago. Tea Commissioner N.Uyangoda said that this was introduced to 30 tea exporters and today 10 regular tea exporters successfully use the online documentation and gain in many ways.

Uyangoda said that there are 300registered tea exporters in the country but only around 50 exporters are active. The Tea Board expects to connect all tea exporters online.

Under the online documentation system the exporters get the online payment gateway and lodgment number, online submission of Blend sheet to Tea Board and acknowledgment, online approval of CUSDEC's by the Tea Board and online registration and assessment of CUSDEC's by Customs and the BOI (Board Of Investments).

This process reduces the documentation related lead-time and exporters need not visit The Tea Board or the Customs. Athukorala said that this initiative would expands to cover all import and export sector to make Sri Lanka a logistic hub in the region.

Facelift for Raigamkorala tea factory

2007-08-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Raigamkorala tea factory will be developed in to a model tea factory under a ten year development plan for the tea industry, said Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayarathne. Measures will be taken to improve the quality of tea leaves, and raise awareness among suppliers of the minimum level of water in tea leaves.

Manufacturers have been cautioned about the 40% damaged caused while transporting and the need to use plastic bags. The tea factory will be developed to follow Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards after the development plan is implemented.

Over 50% of the production will be value added tea which will bring more foreign exchange to the country than black tea. Modernization of the tea factory conforming to the HACCP standards and the importance of producing quality tea will be discussed at a meeting to be held with 14 unions.

Raigamkorala factory is one of the major finest Ceylon Tea producing tea factory in Sri Lanka.

I am Tea Total?

2007-08-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

"No thanks, I'm tea-total", is sometimes heard in response to an offer of an alcoholic beverage. In Sri Lanka, where pure Ceylon Tea is grown, it is easy to assume that people declining alcohol are saying they only drink tea.

However, the world "tea total" did not spring from the exclusive drinking of tea. In this case "tea" stands for "temperance" and the words are an abbreviated form of saying "I'm temperance total". It's a term dating back to the early 19th century, introduced into the English language about the same time that tea growing was introduced to Ceylon.

The tea totaler today who wants to try tea instead of alcohol has a choice as broad as the different types of spirits. A cup of high grown Orange Pekoe (OP) tea, served without milk and sugar, has the golden, appetizing appearance of a good sherry. However, while BOPF (Broken Orange Pekoe fanning) is a bracing tea at breakfast time, with milk and perhaps sugar, it wouldn't take the place of a cocktail as the sun goes down.

I had a great cup of tea during a trip down to south at a pastry shop outside Galle. Privately-run pastry shops with plate glass windows, orange paint ans short-eats kept under glass, are replacing those grubby tea boutiques where tea is mixed with enough sugar to stand a spoon in. I requested plain tea, no sugar, ans was delighted to taste a bracing hint of ginger in the brew.

Although ginger flavored tea bags can be bought in local supermarkets, this tea had been made with water boiled with a chunk of ginger root in it. It's easy to do at home with fresh ginger. Another version for an equally beguiling taste is to put a stick of cinnamon in the water as it is boiling.

Iced tea is a very refreshing drink, especially when drunk in the garden on a hot, humid day. The best iced tea should be freshly made rather than the kind that comes in a can and contains so many artificial favorings and sweeteners, the tea content seems less then five percent.

Here is an easy recipe to make iced tea on demand.

Into a small teapot put two teaspoons of jasmine Green Tea (bought locally as loose tea leaf). let it brew for four to fivce minutes to get some color and strength. Pack a highball glass with ice cubes and pour the tea through a strainer from the pot into the glass over the ice. Serve when the ice is melted. For extra depth to the taste, add a trio of cloves when the water is still hot. For a sweet tooth, top up the iced green tea with a dash of Sprite.

I recently bought 100g of Silver Tips tea (also known as White Tea) at huge expense when compared with traditional tea, but only a few rupees more than a bottle of local gin. This tea is made by hand, with each plucked leaf individually rolled and sun-dried. A spoonful steeped in freshly boiled water (I use mineral water without chlorine for an untainted brew) produces a pale liquid with a modest taste.

Its has none of the body of orthodox black tea yet stands alone with a distinctive, lingering finish reminiscent of cinnamon. This makes it great as an aperitif, stimulating the appetite as well as inspiring good conversation. so for a sun-downer with a difference, one can, indeed, be "Tea Total".

Tea growing areas in Sri Lanka

2007-07-31T00:54:00.000-07:00

There are six main tea-producing areas in Sri Lanka:

1. Galle, to the south of the island
2. Ratnapura, about 55 miles east of Colombo
3. Kandy, the ancient royal capital
4. Nuwara Eliya, the highest area that produces the finest teas
5. Dimbulla, west of the central mountains
6. Uva, located east of Dimbulla

There are five ceylon tea varieties of the tea growing areas.

Morawak Korale district tea is grown at up to 2,500 feet
Kandy district tea is grown at 2,500 feet or above
Uva district tea is grown at 2,800 feet or above
Dambulla and Dickoya tea is grown at 3,500 feet or above
Nuwara Eliya tea is grown at 6,000 feet or above

There are lots of other varieties from the color and taste.

Sri Lanka Tea Museum

2007-07-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka Tea Board recently opened a Tea Museum in Hantana, Kandy. Although exhibits are not abundant they do provide a valuable insight into how tea was manufactured in the early days. Old machinery, some dating back more than a century, has been lovingly restored to working order. The first exhibit that greets visitors in the Engine Room on the ground floor of the museum is the Ruston and Hornsby developed diesel and other liquid fuel engines, power for the estates were obtained by water driven turbines.

The Hantane tea factory is located three miles from Kandy. It is served by a motorable road that circles the factory providing easy access. Kandy is a mandatory stop on virtually every tourist itinerary, and the location of Ceylon Tea Museum at Hantane makes sound economic sense. It will also enhance the attraction of hill country to visitors. Additionally its proximity to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and Loolecondra, where tea was grown commercially, make Hantane the perfect location. The factory building consists of four floors. The ground accommodate heavy machinery; the first floor occupies some examples in the withering process. Library and the Audio-visual presentations in the second floor whilst the sales outlets are found in the third floor. The fourth floor is to be converted to a deluxe restaurant.

Open on all days from: 8.15 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.

History of Ceylon Tea

2007-07-31T00:39:00.000-07:00

The production of black tea in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) began after a deadly fungus called Hemileia vastatrix destroyed most of the coffee crop on the island. The coffee plantation owners realized that they needed to diversify. The Loolecondera Estate had long been interested in producing tea in Sri Lanka. James Taylor, one of the fathers of Ceylon Tea, had recently arrived on the Estate and wanted to be there for the sowing of the first tea crops in 1867. It was done on 19 acres of land. James Taylor was already experienced in tea cultivation. He had acquired his knowledge in North India. He carried out different experiements on cultivating tea on the verandah of his estate. He rolled the leafs by hand and fired the oxidized leaves on clay stoves over charcoal fire.

The tea that James Taylor made was delicious and sold for a very good price in the London Auction. The tea craze hit Ceylon. By 1890 tea production was at 22,900 tons up from just a mere 23 pounds between 1873 and 1880.

Until 1971, most of the tea companies in Sri Lanka were British-owned but this soon changed after the Land Reform Act was introduced to reacquire land in foreign hands. Since 1990, a new plan has been devised to share the industry between state-owned companies and privately owned companies.Today Lipton, Sir Winston and Ahlan Tea are most known Ceylon tea brands around the world.

The Lion Logo

2007-07-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

Ceylon Tea Lion Logo which appears on Ceylon tea packs denotes not only the country of origin but also the quality of Ceylon Tea.

Sri Lanka Tea Board is the legitimate owner of the Ceylon Tea Lion logo which has been registered in many countries in the world. The usage of Lion Logo is subject to the following conditions:

(a) The Lion Logo can be used only on consumer packs of Ceylon tea.

(b) The packs should contain 100% pure Ceylon tea.

(c) The brands which use the Lion Logo should be packed in Sri Lanka. Overseas Importers/packers are not allowed to use the Lion Logo on their tea packs even if the packs contain pure Ceylon Tea.

(d) The brands which use the Lion Logo should conform to the quality standards set out by the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

When you next buy your tea look for the Lion Logo on the pack which is your guarantee for quality pure Ceylon tea.

All About world's best tea

2007-07-17T00:48:00.000-07:00

Ceylon Tea, the world's most popular tea brand, produce in Sri Lanka (former Ceylon). This blog is all about Ceylon Tea.

You will find brands and varieties of Ceylon Tea, tea preparing methods and more scientific information about tea.